New Ulm weekly review., 1887-12-28
FARMERS AS LEGISLATORS.

FARMERS AS LEGISLATORS.
Several Laws Recommended by
E the Dakota Farmers Alliance-An
Interest laW-Provisions of the
Bill for Taxing and Assessing
Railroad Property.
Huron. Special Telegram, Dec. 16.-Da-
kota's farmers and horticulturists have
held the boards in Huron for four DAYS OF
this week. First the farmers banded to-
gether after legal forms under the little
Farmers alliance. II. G. Loucks OF Clear
Lake was their president last year; G. a.
soderberrg OF Hartford does the
scribe work. Their aim is the better
ment OF No. l. To get this they will fight
corporations OF all kinds; and, although
they have fought the air a good
deal in the past, this has only tougbened
them to combat things tangible that op-
posed their No. 1 aspirations. Their pres
ident is one of the ablest men in the alli-
ance, and he has mind we'll informed on
most subjects relating to his brethren. In
his annual address some OF the points
urged were
The alliance desires that majority OF the
board OF regents OF the agricultural college
at Brookings be farmers. Gov. Church
was requested to SO appoint, but the re.
quest was not observed. It is recommend
ed that the law be amended so that the
alliance will appoint two, the board OF ag-
riculture one and the horticultural and
foresty societies one each. Recommends
the re-enactment of the bill votoed by
Gov. Church, which requires the territory
to duplicate the amounts raised by coun-
ties as premiums up to $500. In this con.
nection quite an extended account is given
OF legislation i'll the last legislature. Re-
cites the action OF the railroads in Dakota
raising grain and fuel rates 25 per cent
about the time the interstate law went in
to effect, but regrets that Dakota has no
vote in congress to make this law more
stringent. Advises petitioning for it's
amendment, pledge all candidates support
bills, the alliance taking all chances OF
their legality. Has no confidence that
either OF the old parties will champion
their cause except as we compel them to.
Must look to individuals, and not to par
ties. Recommends the appointment of an
advisory campaign committee to see that
every legislative district is organized this
winter. Have them present these matters
to each party, requesting them to call
their district and territorial conventions
prior to Dec. Is next; if they refuse to do
COUNT THEM ENEMIES
and nominate and support our own men.
He would recommend the repeal OF all i'm
port duties on all articles which are sup
ported by trusts or other combinations.
It might cost farmers the repeal OF the tar
i'll duty on wheat. but believes they are
ready for the sacrifice. Have been paying
too much for machinery; too big interest;
four times too much for Insurance.; 25 to
90 per cent. too much for coal, and freights
were the highest on whatever
we had to ship in or out. On
everything we buy there is combination
to force prices up as high as the seller
dares to. On the other hand, I know of
not an article we produce or manufacture
that we can get our price on. Must handle
our own wheat. In this we hope to have
the assistance OF our brethren in Minneso.
ia. A conference with them causes us to
believe that it will result in united effort
to handle our own wheat by building a
fiat warehouse at every station in Mime
sofa and Dakata where we have an aHi-
ance. Must have free market for our
wheat. There has been a great increase in
independent shipping in the last year. We
must overcome the railroad elevator
grain.buye combination by a greater one,
and that is the line on which we are work
ing. This will give us unlimited credit to
handle the grain as we'll as free access to
the markets OF the world.
I Secretary Soderberg's report shows 214
alliances chartered since the last annual
meeting; 1876 are local, Is are county or
district The organization exis ts in So
counties, Pembina leading with "a, Mime.
'haha Is, Grant 13, Lake 12, Dickey IL,
Turner IL, Brown TO- Whole number,
46S; total membership, 1900 One hum
5dred and sixty made semi.annual reports.
He showed q great saving to farmers in
artirl4i bought.
4 so ME BILLS RECOMMENDED
The Farmers alliance adopted the Mime.
sofa interest law excepting that it is more
rigid. Seven per cent is the legal rule. No
one shall exact over 10 and interest shall
not be compounded. Building and loan
associations are exempt from this law.
The bill adopted for taxing and assessing
railroad property provides that the assess
ment be done by auditors OF the counties
tn rough which the roads pass. Equali-
zation OF valuation will be made by a ter
ritorial board who shall neither raise nor
lower the aggregate, but must equalize by
raising and lowering the values Of individ-
ual companies. It is virtually the bill in
troduced in the house last winter by DR..
Stewart, and much resembles the Ohio law
The cash receipts of the alliance were about
$4,000, against 81, 200 last year. Salaries
were fixed at 81, 200 for the president,
5000 for the lecturer, $500 for the secre-
tary and $1OO for the treasurer
SMITH AND KlLRAIN.